just received this in my inbox, thought it might interest a few BNA WA forumers. . . .

~~~~~~~~~Welcome to WestCycleA new era for cycling in Western Australia

Western Australiaâ€™s new, peak cycling body, WestCycle, was announced by the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Terry Waldron, on 2 September 2011.

WestCycle was formed following extensive consultation, resulting in the 2010 report, Developing a Community of Cycling in WA. The report found a new, over-Â­â€arching peak cycling body would be best placed to ensure an integrated approach to cycling in WA and ensure human and financial resources were maximised.

WestCycle Chair Craig Smith-Â­Gander said Board members were excited about supporting and growing all forms of cycling.

â€œCycling is a wonderful whole-of-life activity and has the potential to have positive impacts on the lives of West Australians at many levels,â€ Mr Smith-Gander said. â€œIn sport, recreation and transportation we hope to give cycling a greater presence and demonstrate the many opportunities and benefits associated with all types of cycling.â€ The following key cycling bodies have joined WestCycle as foundation members:

Mr Smith-Gander said cycling had a rich history in WA. â€œBoard members understand the important past and ongoing commitment and contribution existing WA cycling organisations make,â€ he said. â€œWestCycle can only be successful by partnering with and supporting the excellent work already done by a broad range of groups who represent the more then 255,000 cyclists in WA.â€ While WestCycle is less than a month old, the board is moving quickly to address its key objectives:

1. act as the interface between the cycling community and government;

2. increase and promote the development of cycling activities throughout Western Australia;

3. produce a strategic plan, in conjunction with members and stakeholders, for the activity of cycling in Western Australia;

4. Source funding for the achievement of specific outcomes within the strategic plan;

5. on behalf of/or in partnership with members, undertake relevant projects to benefit the cycling community;

6. advocate cycling in Western Australia and the interests of all cyclists across the competitive, recreational and transport activityareas;

8. communicate and advocate to government agencies, otherlocal agencies and the public; and

9. establish relationships with external partners to support thedelivery of all Association objectives.

During the next few months WestCycle will continue to engage with cycling groups and begin developing a strategic plan for cycling in WA. â€œWe hope to represent all cyclists and cycling disciplines to grow a supportive culture anda real community of cycling in WA,â€ Mr Smith-Â­â€Gander said.

â€œCycling is a wonderful whole-of-life activity and has the potential to have positive impacts on the lives of West Australians at many levels,â€ Mr Smith-Gander said. â€œIn sport, recreation and transportation we hope to give cycling a greater presence and demonstrate the many opportunities and benefits associated with all types of cycling.â€ The following key cycling bodies have joined WestCycle as foundation members:

Where is Bicycling WA in the above list? Bicycling WA's website indicates 'BICYCLING WESTERN AUSTRALIA IS THE LARGEST ORGANISATION IN WA REPRESENTING ALL BIKE RIDERS INCLUDING KIDS, COMMUTERS, SOCIAL, SPORT AND RECREATION CYCLISTS!' so why wouldn't they be part of WestCycle?

Just a stab in the dark Roland... (and I'm sure you know it playing devil's advocate)...maybe BWA are too busy representing riders to funnel $200k out of state revenue to sit on a board or justify its existence?Ivory + Tower

The last sentence on BWA's About Us page may explain it also:Everything we do is aimed to directly benefit our members. If you have any suggestions on how we can help improve bike riding in your area, please contact us.

eldavo wrote:Just a stab in the dark Roland... (and I'm sure you know it playing devil's advocate)...maybe BWA are too busy representing riders to funnel $200k out of state revenue to sit on a board or justify its existence?.

If they are actually engaging in advocacy I would love to know what they are doing? Care to enlighten us?

I am still deciding whether to join or not and frankly claims on websites don't do it for me ... I want to see real action/outcomes.

Oh not being on the new board is pretty stupid in my view if they are serious about representation.

The other groups aren't voting members of the board, they're founding members of WestCycle. I think my Dad is a founding member of the West Coast Eagles

You don't really need to do much to exceed what the government has achieved in 2 years:a) commissioning a report that decides a new layer of govenrment is needed to get things done (justify its new spending)b) creating a new government board with the new spendingc) in parallel creating a future city plan without any of those pesky difficulties of committing to funding anything ?) achieving... ?

eldavo wrote:Just a stab in the dark Roland... (and I'm sure you know it playing devil's advocate)...maybe BWA are too busy representing riders to funnel $200k out of state revenue to sit on a board or justify its existence?Ivory + Tower

The last sentence on BWA's About Us page may explain it also:Everything we do is aimed to directly benefit our members. If you have any suggestions on how we can help improve bike riding in your area, please contact us.

I'm confused with the various bodies apparently representing our interests and I know nothing of the politics behind them all. However Roland's question to me seems to need an answer. Indeed it was on my lips before I came across Roland's question.

So, what is the reason? I could not glean anything from your response except that maybe you are holding some agenda of your own without stating it. Or maybe someone else's agenda as you are playing devil's advocate.

I dunno, if anyone is a member they could point BWA to this thread and ask them to respond?

My agenda is to commute safely past the intersections and path decay and new hazards local councils put up by accident or design. This week the CoShtirling contractors leaving concrete based fence posts dug up alongside path at Karrinyup Rd. (near freeway fixed speed.camera location) for vandals to lay out after school for peak hour path traffic to hit. Grey post on grey concrete, guy in front of me nearly designed a new face for himself.

Fortunately the LGA campaign tells me with a portion of your and my rates that they keep us running so their negligence that has killed two people I know (a motorcyclist and cyclist) is ok and I should appreciate them more than I do. Hard to be rosy peace and free love about this.

Trying not to move off topic, but this is main roads. Please contact them with your concerns, I did earlier this week and still in discussion with what is being installed, more cheese grate fencing. I was also concerned about the left over posts, but more concerned with another 10-15 years of this type of fence given it is cm's away from the path.

BWA acknowledge government agency support for their programs, speaking with Jeremey Murray on Sunday morning at the UCWT event his BRIGHT yellow BWA polo shirt had a large government agency logo prominently displayed, so they have no issues with accessing and acknowledging Government funding.BTA and the other member groups hope that the continuing hard work of the Westcycle CEO and Board will encourage BWA into the Westcycle tent.

CWA WAMBA and BMX WA receive organisational support programme funds from Department of Sport and Recreation, this has never been hidden. Part of the eagerness of those peak representative groups to support Westcycle is the OSP funding is to go directly to Westcycle to get all representative groups working together for all aspects of cycling.Westcycle Strategic Plan is out there somewhere, cannot find a link just at the moment.

cyclegirl88 wrote:Not directly from the Government like Cycling WA though is it?

What's your definition of 'directly' cyclegirl88? And I would appreciate any comment you have to make.

CycleSnail wrote:The WestCycle Annual Report has been published. The surplus from last year plus grants received this year means that they have over $500K in cash available.

SInce I was bored, I have written up a bit of a analysis/commentary on where Westcycle has been and is heading. I would suggest Westcycle has done quite well in its first year but it does need to get some balance/ensure it focuses on its members (crtiical point) in going forward. For example advocacy needs some loving to go with the excellent work achieved so far on the recreational side.

Andrew

Last edited by Aushiker on Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

CycleSnail wrote:The WestCycle Annual Report has been published. The surplus from last year plus grants received this year means that they have over $500K in cash available.

SInce I was bored, I have written up a bit of a analysis/commentary on where Westcycle has been and is heading. I would suggest Westcycle has done quite well in its first year but it does not need to get some balance/ensure it focuses on its members (crtiical point) in going forward. For example advocacy needs some loving to go with the excellent work achieved so far on the recreational side.

Andrew

Thanks, Andrew, for this interesting analysis for those who find annual reports a bit dry

CycleSnail wrote:The WestCycle Annual Report has been published. The surplus from last year plus grants received this year means that they have over $500K in cash available.

SInce I was bored, I have written up a bit of a analysis/commentary on where Westcycle has been and is heading. I would suggest Westcycle has done quite well in its first year but it does not need to get some balance/ensure it focuses on its members (crtiical point) in going forward. For example advocacy needs some loving to go with the excellent work achieved so far on the recreational side.

Andrew

Thanks, Andrew, for this interesting analysis for those who find annual reports a bit dry

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